NJ Transit and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will hold a public information session on Tuesday, Jan. 30 to provide opportunities for members of the public and stakeholders to learn about the Hudson Tunnel Project and potential impact to our area.

The Hudson Tunnel Project is intended to preserve the current functionality of the North River Tunnel – the existing passenger rail crossing under the Hudson River between New Jersey and Penn Station in New York – and to strengthen the resiliency of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor (NEC).

The North River Tunnel, which is over 100 years old and sustained damage during Superstorm Sandy, is a critical link in the NEC and is used daily by thousands of Amtrak and NJ Transit passengers.

The public information session will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 30 at the Lido Restaurant, 2600 Tonnelle Ave., in North Bergen. Project staff will be available to answer questions about the project. Spanish language interpreters will be present and the meeting facility is accessible to persons with disabilities. If any other special accommodations are needed, contact the project team five days prior to the meeting at (973) 261-8115 or team@hudsontunnelproject.com.

From Jan. 29 to Feb. 24, North Bergen residents can register for the North Bergen Library’s 2018 winter literacy classes. The classes include medical billing, childcare development associate, ESL and conversation, and legal assistant. All classes are in English, with most running for 16 weeks.

Space is limited, and preference will be given to low-income and unemployed residents. There will also be a one-time attendance deposit of $50 that will be refunded after successfully completing a class. Classes begin Feb. 25. For more information, call (201) 869-4715.

Free citizenship courses offered at both libraries

The North Bergen Free Public Library will offer free 15-week citizenship courses at both the main library and the Kennedy Branch. Beginner and high intermediate/advanced level classes are available.

The courses are funded through the Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program, which was awarded to the library by the Department of Homeland Security. The grant aims to help organizations promote prospective citizens’ assimilation into American civic life by funding educational programs designed to increase their knowledge of English, U.S. history, and civics.

The main library is located at 8411 Bergenline Ave. and the Kennedy Branch is at 2123 Kennedy Blvd. For more information call (201) 869-4715 or visit www.nbpl.org.

North Bergen beverage company fined $550,000 for allegedly violating New York’s “Bottle Bill”

The state of New York has hit beverage distributor North Bergen Beverage with a $550,000 penalty and a three-year suspension from selling in New York for allegedly violating its “Bottle Bill” Law, according to a press release from New York’s attorney general.

The complaint alleges North Bergen Beverage sold tens of millions of beverage containers over the past five years to New York stores and didn’t collect the nickel deposit as required by law, according to an announcement by the offices of Gov. Cuomo and Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

The so called “Bottle Bill” law mandates that all retailers and distributors of bottled beverages in New York state pay a five cent deposit per bottle to their beverage dealers or distributors. The cost is passed on to consumers, who sometimes return the empty bottles to redeem the five cent deposit.

By allegedly forgoing the nickel deposits, North Bergen Beverage was able to undercut its competitors and deny New York state millions in revenue it would have otherwise received when deposits are not redeemed by consumers, state officials said.

As part of the settlement, North Bergen Beverage will pay New York state $400,000 in new penalties on top of a previous payment of $100,000, as well as $50,000 for investigative costs. They will also suspend sales in the state of all products covered by the bottle bill for three years.

The penalty is the largest ever against a distributor for violating the law, the press release said.

“As we allege, North Bergen Beverage persistently, repeatedly, and knowingly broke the law,” said NY State A.G. Eric Schneiderman in the release.

Volunteer Baseball Coaches Needed

Volunteer coaches are needed for North Bergen’s upcoming baseball season. Anyone interested in volunteering please call the Recreation Center at (201) 453-0644, Monday through Friday between 2 and 9 p.m.